Sargon of Akkad - Carl Benjamin - The Advice of an Akkadian Father to His Son
Aired: 2014-07-21
Duration: 02:51


=== Do Not Loiter in Dispute (02:51) ===

[00:00:00]  The Advice of an Acadian Father to his Son, Circa 2200 before Christ.
[00:00:06]  Do not set out to stand around in the assembly.
[00:00:09]  Do not loiter when there is a dispute, for in the dispute they will have you as an observer.
[00:00:14]  Then you will be made witness for them, and they will involve you in a lawsuit to affirm something that does not concern you.
[00:00:20]  In case of a dispute, get away from it, disregard it.
[00:00:24]  If a dispute involving you should flare up, calm it down.
[00:00:28]  A dispute is a covered pit, a wall which can cover over its foes.
[00:00:32]  It brings to mind what one has forgotten, and makes an accusation against a man.
[00:00:38]  Do not return evil to your adversary.
[00:00:41]  Requite with kindness the one who does evil to you.
[00:00:45]  Maintain justice for your enemy.
[00:00:48]  Be friendly to your enemy.
[00:00:51]  Give food to eat, beer to drink, grant what is requested.
[00:00:55]  Provide for and treat with honour.
[00:00:58]  at this one's god takes pleasure it is pleasing to shamash who will repay him with favour do good things be kind all your days do not honour a slave girl in your house she should not rule your bedroom like a wife Do not give yourself over to slave girls.
[00:01:19]  Let this be said amongst your people.
[00:01:22]  The household which a slave girl rules she disrupts.
[00:01:26]  Do not marry a prostitute, whose husbands are legion.
[00:01:29]  An Ishtar woman who is dedicated to a god.
[00:01:32]  A Kulmashitu woman.
[00:01:34]  When you have trouble, she will not support you.
[00:01:37]  When you have a dispute, she will be a mocker.
[00:01:40]  There is no reverence or submissiveness in her.
[00:01:43]  Even if she is powerful in the household, get rid of her, for she pricks up her ears at the footsteps of another.
[00:01:50]  My son, if it be the wish of a ruler that you belong to him, if you are entrusted with his closely guarded seal, open his treasure house and enter it, for no one but you may do it.
[00:02:01]  Uncounted wealth you will find inside, but do not covet any of that.
[00:02:05]  Nor set your mind on a secret crime, for afterwards the matter will be investigated, and the secret crime you have committed will be exposed.
[00:02:13]  Do not speak ill, only speak good.
[00:02:16]  Do not say evil things, speak well of people.
[00:02:19]  He who speaks ill and says evil, people will waylay him because of his debt to Shamash.
[00:02:25]  Do not talk too freely.
[00:02:27]  Watch what you say.
[00:02:29]  Do not express your innermost thoughts even when you are alone.
[00:02:33]  What you say in haste you may regret later.
[00:02:36]  Exert yourself to restrain your speech.
[00:02:39]  Worship your God every day.
[00:02:41]  Sacrifice and pious utterance are the proper accompaniment of incense.
[00:02:47]  Have a free will offering for your God, for this is proper toward a God.